GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Frigid temperatures kept some people inside but not all. Many people made the most of the weather.
With temperatures below zero most of the day, it was a record setting freeze for Northeast Wisconsin.
“We do think the cold is going to keep people away, so we did try to make adjustments,” said Linda Gustke from the Botanical Gardens in Green Bay.
So cold, that many winter events that are usually held outdoors had to be moved inside.
“We wont be leading snow shoe hikes today, but we will still just be talking about how they work and how you use them and everything,” said Gustke.
Winter in the Garden at Green Bay’s Botanical Gardens and Winterfest on Broadway, both moved the majority of their events inside.
Horse drawn wagon rides scheduled for Winterfest had to be canceled and vendors brought indoors.
Even the ice sculptors say it’s a little too cold.
“When it does get a little bit too frigid, that’s when the ice starts to crack. There is some fear of it being too brittle,” said Shane Poisson, an apprentice for Art Below Zero. “The best temperature are below freezing, but once it gets too cold there can be some cracking.”
While cold weather didn’t stop everyone from going about their day, it did slow some down.
Low tire pressure and trouble starting cars were just minor setbacks due to the freezing temperatures. Many gas stations in the area had lines to put air in car tires.
“We just wanted to get out of the house, because there was events inside we thought we’d come by and check it out,” said Cheryl Wolf at the Winterfest on Broadway. “Go to the stores one at a time and just run in and out.”
The secret to spending time outside? Bundle up.
“I obviously have a lot of layers on right now. I have thermals double socks, a sweatshirt, I got my gator on to make sure my neck is definitely protected,” said Poisson. “My face is the only thing that is cold right now.”
“We put probably extra layer on today otherwise you do warm up pretty quick once you get out walking,” said Keith Vanhandel.
Nothing stopped Vanhandel family members from using new snowshoes.
“My son just got his snowshoes for Christmas so he really wanted to try them out since we got snow,” said Vanhandel.
Although the tour wasn’t guided, they were able to snowshoe at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens Saturday.
